With price de-regulation in place, it is probably right time to expand business: Shell India

BENGALURU: With pricing of petrol and diesel having been completely freed from government control, it is probably the right time for Shell India, which has licence for about 2,000 fuel stations, to expand business, a company official said today.

Shell had set up its first fuel station in India in November, 2004 in Bangalore.

"We started off with fairly rapid advancement and expansion of our network across the six states; and you are aware that the government of India in response to the international hardening of prices started paying subsidies to the government companies.

"So, that subsidy was really not available to private companies, so that's one of the reasons why we had to slow down our expansion. But from October last year both mogas (petrol) and diesel have been deregulated completely and this is probably the time when we would really like to expand our foot prints in India" said Shell Retail India General Manager Ravi Sundararajan told reporters here.

Meanwhile, the company launched 'Shell V-Power' its premium performance petrol, across all its major outlets in India.

Shell V-Power petrol is available at Shell outlets in Bangaluru, Mysuru, Chennai, Ahmedabad, Rajkot, Baroda, Surat and Pune.

On retail price of Shell V-Power petrol, Sundararajan said it changes on a fortnightly basis and costs around Rs 8 more per litre.